Economist at Moody’s predicts a 20% housing price drop until 2012 with a years worth of inventory stacked up. Not much construction work for those country western fans. Record trade deficit, increase in drinking water cost here anyway trying to find blue sky as Europeans shrink their economies too reduce deficits.

Awe Brother CT, jest got back from the “North Country” on the border of Canadia where the Candians live and I got a good look at the meteor showers that fell from yer sky…didja get a look at ‘em from the top of yer mountain in paradise?

Jest what is the skinny on gettin’ the troops home…is Obama gunna hold that scumbag Petreaus to the June ’11 withdrawl date?

KEEP THE FAITH AND PASS THE AMMUNITION, AND FOR GOD’S SAKE DON’T SHOOT EACH OTHER!!!

That one is coming not include along with a $100.00 a month increase in the water rates. Wages down expenses up. Landlords are listing their rentals but there are no buyers. More residents under water in housing values as the dip continues. Was at farmers market and a realtor I know said his son lost 6 houses, and one of the offers he received on a listing of $265K was only $165.00. The Buzzards are circling the prey. The beat goes on but cleaning up the Bush housing bubble is a huge job that has created unnecessary suffering around the world.

Hey Bro…ya got some REAL ‘merican music when ya get down with the Blue Grass…but like Tug McGraw said about Astro Turf when asked if he liked it better’n natural grass: “I don’t know, I’ve never smoked no Astro Turf”. Guess we just gotta take yer word for it since most of us ain’t smoked any “Blue Grass” unless some a the funky stuff we inhaled on acid counts.

But tanight it’s time for some early Beethoven string quartets, a couple a jars of our best Tawny Port and to bed…some a theshit that passes for serious conversation around here is drivin me ta drink…again!

I can handle it others can’t and maybe the sewer and water combined will send me and others packing. USDA called me from the Montgomery ALA office and explained the funding request was approved and sent to DC for a look over at USDA the OBM and then WH.$80 M funding of $165 M at a high rate of interest compared to the State Revolving funds. Sad part is we could comply with a Project $130 million cheaper with better environmental protection.

Ya know Norske, I don’t GET the classical, and I worked for NPR Classical Affiliate for 7 years.

It was fine, but it don’t mooooooove me.

The Grass, with hands on, like classical pickers?

Hot!

Did ya know that grassers can read sheet music and play classic music, but them orchestral folks sight reading are LOST out of their butts trying to find a simple phreakin 1,4,5 chord change up tempo grass tune for solo’s?

Hey Newton. I guess it really doesn’t matter what the cause is, it sucks.
BB and The Senator (MaryMcC) should be on every daytime tv show there is. And KO and Maddow. People need to know they aren’t alone in all this mess.

I studied violin and viola for 14 years in my youth and gotta sit down with pros sight readin’ for concerts with local “philharmonics in the early ’60′s and I am here ta tell ya that any of the folks I sat with could run ya scales and rift offa the chorus of ANY Blue Grass tune ya gave ‘em if ya gave ‘em the key signature. No, dear heart, it’s ALL classical music from Robert Johnson to Duke Ellington to Jimmi Hendrix ta the Carters, Miles Davis…well, ya get my drift. And ya know what every one of the musicians that played every one of the types a music we all share had in common? Well, it was and is an honesty that comes from the music and informs the fingers and brain via the heart.

Funny thing bandaid fixes fly like a Safe Parking Lot for Homeless I am working on one that is getting support all around. Behind the Social Service department in their parking lot where a new homeless shelter is planned (no $8 million to build or money for operation). So we have 100 more beds for a growing homeless population of 1.5% of the County. All these construction workers could be building affordable housing in a real stimulus package that will produce paychecks for the unemployed and homeless.

Hi fellow night owls (and I am in the Eastern time Zone). I just was made aware of an interesting little article in TNR. Has anyone seen it? What is fascinating is that it is the first I have seen in which the MSM describes the Obamarahma regime as a failure. Interestingly, a link to it on HP has around 1k comments, most along the lines of “but he inherited a bad economy, wait, you’ll see Santa Claus is coming.” Fascinating, it is like watching a ship sink.

There are problems with that:
It’s practical, it provides jobs at good wages, housing that people can afford, and it enriches the whole community.
I think those qualities are now seen as bugs rather than features. We need A LOT more affordable housing and we need a jobs program. NOW.

Ok my boss seems to have this very strange pecking order 41 year old mexican me builds foot high potato mounds for a week I can’t get the job done in time so he sends a college woman to help which I appreciated we both can’t get the job done in time so after lunch he sends in an old woman well older than me I don’t ask woman their ages.
He has two white males one with a college football scholarship working there they seem to be off that week. I seem to get all the hard jobs next the college girl, then the older lady.
The White Males seem to be the last to get the hard jobs? I’m a good worker but I doubt i beat a college kid. Is this some new form of race, sex, ageism?

Used to weigh 250-240 in the third week of june not sure now weigh 209 last week how much weight loss is to much plus besides doing some yoga everyday, before work, at lunch, during work I have had to see an acupuncturist I go for a full exam Wednesday. Nobody else at work has lost half that weight and 2 of the older people certainly could afford to lose the weight.

Yes and Farm Workers don’t get over time but on the plus side if we are legal we get minimum wage and more hours than regular jobs. Still I do not see the reasoning behind that farmers get checks from the government so just why can’t they pay us more?

Fox news wins the right to lie in court my boss now wants to fire me if I complain and criticize my co workers for not helping me when I ask for help. I think he worries I might be a labor plant:) I wish I’d then be getting a second salary.

Met a girl today we started talking she wants to stop the Walgreens from closing in Kenosha she is trying to start a protest 3 times she said I’m not a political activist…and then started to act like one.
She is starting this protest herself now and I run into her on the street what are the odds? I never got a girl to get my phone number that quick.
Maybe she’s a plant?

I know that some of you read my diaries and I’m trying to decide what direction to go with this next one.

The topic is the same the approach is what is different.

Shrimp Season started Monday in LA. The tests set up for seafood don’t include the ingredients in Corexit 9527. The USDA’s testing resources are limited. The government is counting on shrimpers to dump back shrimp that smell oily.

Now I’ve debated using a Time Traveling Spocko theme like I’m coming from 2014 where 3,000 died of cancer from eating shrimp. I point out how people in 2010 could have stopped these tests by beefing up testing, but tell them not too because those 3,000 needed to die to ensure a glorious future and 391 million in revenue for the fisherman.

Or do a bit pointing out the situation and how the American’s “Get Sick and Sue” principle trumps the “better safe than sorry” principle because money might be ‘left on the table” if you don’t exploit every resource. If someone gets sick, well that’s what insurance and bankruptcy and lawyers are for.

A report written by Anita George-Ares and James R. Clark for Exxon Biomedical Sciences, Inc. entitled “Acute Aquatic Toxicity of Three Corexit Products: An Overview” states that “Corexit 9500, Corexit 9527, and Corexit 9580 have moderate toxicity to early life stages of fish, crustaceans and mollusks (LC50 or EC50 – 1.6 to 100 ppm*). It goes on to say that decreasing water temperatures in lab tests showed decreased toxicity, a lowered uptake of the dispersant. Unfortunately, we’re going to be seeing an increase in temperatures, not a decrease. Amongst the other caveats is that the study is species-specific, that other animals may be more severely affected, silver-sided fish amongst them.

Oil is toxic at 11 ppm while Corexit 9500 is toxic at only 2.61 ppm; Corexit 9500 is four times as toxic as the oil itself. Sure, a lot less of it is being introduced, but that’s still a flawed logical perspective, because it’s not a “lesser of two evils” scenario. BOTH are going into the ocean water.

I complained I got a raise I emailed the boss and asked for in on the easy jobs now my back needs medical help and I am angry his raise will in no way cover my expenses and now he seems to want to fire me before I cause more trouble.
I don’t think he realizes he is a racist, ageist sexist person?

Red head, curves, long hair nice face, her woodwork is a Giant Redwood. No ring don’t know about boyfriend but hey maybe its all coincidence and she really took my number after my barely speaking 30 words to her because Wallgreens is that important?

No they don’t do the same work I do more of the hard jobs building foot high potato mounds, weeding picking is my easiest job. They drive to the produce stands, wash the veggies pick only part of the day.
They work hard at the jobs I do only when I need help and the boss tells them.

The boss claims he won’t let me drive because he saw me tailgate once yet he never asked about anyone’s driving record. the kids are in the highest group to insure 16-25. He is the boss but it does seem unscientific to base a judgement on one observation and then close you eyes.

Dr. Gena Solomon sent a letter to the FDA asking why they aren’t testing for certain chemicals and asking to see all the data.

What I know about the media is that this is not a story.
It’s a story if BP or Norcal told the not to test. It is a story if the shrimpers ship out bad shrimp and people start bleeding from their anus and noses.
It is not a story if a few thousand more people get cancer in a couple of years.

How long do I have to be employed to collect unemployment? Do I get it if I quit? If after warning my boss my back is hurting and I’m seeking medical treatment can he insist I do the hard jobs or do I need a Dr’s note?
If he does fire me for a condition he caused what do I do then?

How it worked in the hospital was this: we got injured on the job, we would make sure doctor knew it was to be billed to Workman’s Comp. Of course we saw the on-site doc, got Rx filled (and billed to Workman’s Comp) etc. Then we’d get a doctor’s note saying either “Needs to be off one day then can return on light duty for X days then may return full duty.”
Lots of back injuries. One woman broke her back when the patient she was helping walk to the bathroom passed out and she tried to help him to the floor. He was a big tall man and she was little.
She is on permanent disability and her lawsuit got her $30k total, and that was supposed to be her lifetime total.
We learned: If a patient falls, step away.

Any hassles proving you got injured on the job? I work hard come home shower eat and read I doubt my books weigh as much as 37 half bushels of tomatoes. Thats my record in a day hot august son and the a very wet august is making the tomatoes grow like wild fire. I throw away maybe one out of every 5 because the tomatoes grow to fast and the skin splits.

One of my complaints in my rant to my co workers the rant that now has him threatening to fire me was that 2 of them leave for lunch before I do with the bosses van I walk up from the fields everytime I saw them leave because I figured it was lunch but they normally get to the bosses house 15-20 minutes after I do and get paid for it!
I bet they slanted the conversation to the boss because they are worried I would tell the boss. Should I stay at the job? Should I tell the boss? Or tell the local prosecutor D.A or who ever handles this sort of thing? Who handles this sort of thing?

Red I talked to your employees about my about my situation and anger with some of them. I was giving them a chance to explain.
Why was I angry I thought you would have handled this situation by now I asked in my last email weeks ago to get in on some of the easier jobs. I was not looking for more pay I’m older than all the kids working and still getting more of the hard jobs and being stuck all day in the heat.
I sought medical help this week with $80 of my own money because of my back. My Mom is sending me $150 so I can keep getting help.
Even a raise is unlikely to cover those costs so I would prefer it if I got rotated in to the easy jobs an equal amount same as everyone else. Just like I asked you in the last email.
I don’t like having to take off early because I’m tired from days in the sun. From trying to impress you by weeding fast, moving crops up to the barn in a wheel barrel when the rain makes the road to muddy for your truck, picking tons of tomatoes just so that I might impress you and finally get a chance to wash veggies or go out to the stands every day like the other employees
Since apparently the first email did not work sounding out my fellow employees before I wrote you another email seemed at the time my best option its good to run your ideas past people before you write.
I don’t think its fair that I stay all day picking and then get sent home while the people doing the easy job of washing all the veggies that I picked all day get to get more hours by finishing washing the veggies and then delivering those veggies to the stands as I go home. This sunday I got to the stands for the first time during the day then I was sent home after washing the veggies while they got more hours delivering the veggies to the produce stands at the end of the day.
I am asking for help but please don’t send Jen anymore it makes me feel guilty that a Woman is the first person you send in to help me sure I like her but I would willingly give up the chance to talk to her rather than see her suffer like I do.
Especially when Herbert, David and old Jim ( Steve’s new I exclude him from my criticism he works like Jen and Tina) they are all able bodied men! Can’t you rotate in one driver on the hard jobs all day 3 days a week?
I still remember creating foot high potato mounds for a week maybe more days with a hoe and Herbert and old Don were nowhere to be found Jen and even Tina after lunch on the last day I did potato mounds had to help me so I could get the job done on time.
In my day young men would be embarrassed that an old guy with white hair would be stuck doing the doing hard jobs and would offer to help when they could. I cannot count the number of times I have seen all my fellow employees except Steve take water breaks and watch me work, even when I ask them to help.
They should be more embarrassed that women were sent in to do the hard jobs rather than them. A kid in good enough shape to get a football scholarship can’t do the hard jobs on a farm but an old man, a young woman even an older woman well older than me I think have to do it?
I fail to see the logic of a pecking order on hard jobs that is old white haired man first, college woman second, older woman third young able bodied men fourth (granted Herbert does work harder than me, but that is only when he is given a hard job.
I fail to see why hard work is not rewarded with a chance to do easy jobs, and now I am pushed to seek medical help to keep working because stretching every morning and sometimes at lunch or even in the field is not enough to stop the pain.
I fail to see why on hot days I am the only worker worker working hard enough to have to douse my clothes entirely with the hose before work, and sometimes after lunch and even after work just to keep working as hard as I do
Has any other worker lost half the weight working here I have? Has any other worker even Jen or Herbert developed the muscle working like I have so that they could build potato mounds for days straight in the hot sun? I bet I can beat any other worker maybe even Herbert in arm wrestling now. I might even be able to beat them if they used both hands. I certainly could not do that when I first started working here but that just shows how hard I work compared to them.
I doubt you can afford to reimburse my medical expenses and seeing a regular Doctor would be even more expensive but if I keep working like this thats the next step.
I want in on the easy jobs to save my back. I think you have enough drivers most days to spare one for the weeding, hoeing or just staying out in the field on a hot day.
As far as driving goes thats your choice you saw me tailgate your van once and now won’t let me drive but think about it Herbert, Steve and Jim are in the most expensive group to get car insurance 16-25.
Not that you ever asked about my driving record but I used to deliver newspapers for a living for three years 7 days a week 4 hours a day or more on average I also did other jobs working there but thats just driving time.
Every year my Christmas time tips got larger Newspaper Delivery Customers don’t give you tips if you peel out of their driveways at 4 am, drive on their lawn, hit their mail box etc. I probably have more hours of Paid Driving Time than Ben, Nate and David have of total hours of driving time their whole lives.
My first year I got $500 dollars in tips my third and last year I got $1,000 dollars in tips but given today’s gas prices even my fuel efficient car won’t make me money delivering newspapers anymore. I also had my drivers license renewed without having to take the Drivers test again twice for no tickets in a five or is it a seven year period? Can any of you other drivers claim that? Have you ever asked?
Still its your choice if I drive but Jen does not drive and she does help deliver produce to the veggie stands. Me I get sent home and lose potential hours of work. I have more seniority than Jim or Steve and they drive.
I wasn’t going to mention this but since you got so upset about my stepping on a plant and asked how am I going to pay you if I step on plants well. Remember how I complained in the last e mail about how Jen and Tina are not picking me up anymore and driving me to my car when I was in the fields for lunch?
Did you ever check the payroll records and compared when I punched in to lunch and when Jen and Tina finally punched in this was before we had any produce to deliver to the stands. Quite often they would despite leaving before I did for lunch ( I always started walking to my car for lunch when I saw them drive by leaving me in the fields because I thought it was lunch time) anyway quite often they would get to lunch 15-20 minutes after I did.
If you were so concerned and angry about paying me because I stepped on a plant today. I am sure a 7 minute walk plus 15-20 of paid goof off time 5 days a week will merit a much greater response.
I told Jen about this the day I got angry I am sure she and Tina mentioned that to you the day I got angry as one of the reasons I was angry. Watching people get paid extra while I don’t would make anyone angry! I didn’t mention this because I was was trying to avoid a fight with my co workers call me a coward if you will I deserve it.
But your plant comment and Jen asking me if I thought she was the kind of person who would drive on by and leave someone hurt in a car accident has made me mad.
My reply to her was you and Tina used to give me a ride up to my car for lunch. Jen’s reply was you have to ask Tina why she doesn’t pick you up.
My reply to Jen was I always left for lunch when I saw you two leave. But quite often you and Tina would get to Red’s house and punch out for lunch 15- 20 minutes after me and get paid for all that time doing God knows what!
Jen’s response was, well her voice dropped I could not hear it I am hard of hearing. But I’m sure Jen and Tina both explained it to you since that was one of the reasons I was angry.
If they have not mentioned this then maybe they had motive to slant my angry conversation perhaps more negative maybe I’m being paranoid but who do I trust when nobody except Steve is willing, cares enough or is maybe too scared to give me their opinion about my complaints except to say I should talk to Red? I wish I said then that I would like honest feedback to write a better email.
I don’t care to know why they stopped picking me up for lunch thats their choice. But I do care to hear what you will do to them cheating you. Especially if I get publicly dressed down for not washing all the melons that one day, and for stepping on a plant today.
Employee morale would take a hit if you let this go unaddressed to your other employees. Especially since Steve and Jim were both there to hear my conversation with Jen about her and Tina inflating their hours worked.
Most Businessmen would worry that their other employees might do something similar if a public example was not made. Still after helping me with the potato mounds I think they are your best workers. How ever you handle this tricky situation will be an education in business decisions. I play the stock market how Management handles running a company is always of interest before you invest.
Anyway thanks for letting me go to the stands for the first time today it was fun. And please don’t be to hard on them. As far as me getting angry at you back about the plant I’m sorry I did not see the plant or even realized it was not a weed. After everything I’ve been through this week I was on a short fuse. $80 is a lot of money for me.
New Dave and Amanda refusing to help me when I asked or even wait a few minutes until I could finish picking a more than half filled basket of tomatoes when they drove down to pick up that basket in the first place was well… demeaning. I finished the basket before they even drove out of sight.
We have a job to do we can get more done if we help each other and split the heavy jobs. If everyone focuses on doing only exactly what they are told and refuse to help anyone else then the job of running this farm suffers. We need workers who show leadership skills and team building not using orders as an excuse not to help each other are we a team or do we watch as one person me!!! Does the heavy lifting all the time? Are there no Good Samaritans left in the world? At Mcdonalds one person would be making Hamburgers another would be making Quarter Pounder burgers because the boss said so if an order for 20 Hamburgers came up the person making Quarter Pounders would no questions asked help the person making Hamburgers thats team work, thats independent initiative, that is lacking here.

Problem Jen is working this job to get to college and she is the most determined girl I’ve met I’ve given her a few days to come clean but after the e mail I got from the boss well I’m sure she screwed me Tina is older and well controls her its very weird.
I think I will wait I have today off I hope the lawyers I e mailed from my facebook friends have ideas.

I wonder if whistle blower laws apply? Jen can say goodbye forever to financial aid with a felony conviction and considering she worked there 3 years and Tina is underboss I assume she worked there longer well those numbers ad up former employees might confirm this if interviewed by a prosecutor. Since many are students I think a prosecutor would have leverage. Why I think financial aid disappears if you get convicted of a felony threaten them with investigation of being involved and they should flip.

hmm 7 minute walk plus 15-20 getting in late after I did but still getting paid thats 21 and 27 21*5=105 minutes a week times 9 weeks estimated this year 945 minute/ 60 15.75 * 7.25 =114.18 Jen took Red for just while I was working there Tina earns more but I have no idea what she makes still potentially three years and the season does not end till oct

(8) Theft by deception is a Class A misdemeanor unless the value of the property,
service, or the amount of the check or sight order referred to in subsection (6) or (7)
of this section is:
(a) Five hundred dollars ($500) or more but less than ten thousand dollars
($10,000), in which case it is a Class D felony; or